Jade and Scars

"dear god, I'll never understand how some people meet a drowning person & offer INSPIRATIONAL advice instead of offering a hand or rope" I'm celebrating love today with this heartwarming collection. Promise of Gold/Promises de Oro by José Olivarez publishes today and I need you all to run and gift yourself his words. This collection has me pausing, breathing a little clearer, drawing emojis in the pages, texting screenshots, thinking about ways to dismantle systems, clinging to memories and remembering the ancestors. I am also being reminded that it's OK to not be OK and self-care is alos letting others love me when I need to heal. This one is perfect for today because love is one of the prominent themes and explored in so many poems: in the ways we care for each other and ourselves, the way we use our voices to advocate, the ways that men love through actions and less words, the ways that love shapes communities and so many other aspects. Olivarez's collection also captures themes of immigration, racism, love, family, masculinity, friendship, the pandemic, mental health and grief. The format takes you on an exploration, transforms you and gives you a nice big abrazo at the end. Olivarez wore his heart on his sleeve and the emotions just bleed through. For me the bilingual format was golden. I read through it first in English and then flipped it over and read in Spanish. Palabras hit different in español. I love you doesn't melt my soul the way te amo does. Olivarez is a word magician and his prose will cast a spell on you. Thank you @henryholtbooks for the gifted copy. #PromisesOfGold #JoseOlivarez #tbr #poetry #bookstagram #bookreview #bookphotography #latinxpoets #Mexican #bookstagrammer #books #reading #latinxbookstagram #latinx #love #HappyValentinesDay #poets #IGreads #bookrecommendation #murals #art #PromesasDeOro #libro https://www.instagram.com/p/Coqwav_LKrz/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

IN THE END… He must have felt like a ghost Trying to break his Voice Across the void. His pains so intense It demolishes chances Of being heard fully. Made to feel lonely, He ripped apart her soul Trying to get these thoughts From going out of control. Taking a path most would not dare travel He came through the fields of despair. Coming from afar to find his heart, Figuring herself of all her past wasn't fair. He’s a rare breed, he knows of not defeat Only of love and peace. In the end He will blossom A king Never to be defeated again. JGHP (Mis pinches letras) #poem #poetry #queen #women #love #intheend #latinxpoetry #latinxpoets (at Televisa Guadalajara) https://www.instagram.com/p/Cn4Yy0UOjIr/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

Repost from @sociologyofamiamigirl • Book release date coming out soon ! Here’s a sneak peak of the cover 👀👀👀 thanks to @heyrox___ for the art work #latinxpoet #poetry #book #poems #poetrycommunity https://www.instagram.com/heyrox___/p/CYXAIX5vubS/?utm_medium=tumblr

or: in which the 1918 flu takes and takes and takes.

What happens to the women who stay? | Rebecca Rivera

#SELA folks I hope to see y’all this Friday at @alivioopenmic where founder, Eric, is gonna have his book release party! #repost from @alivioopenmic - The founder and host of Alivio is about to release his first book of poetry this Friday, September 27th. COME OUT FOR A NIGHT OF CELEBRATION! #woc #poet #poc #writer #latinxpoet #latinxpoetry #southeastLA #southLA #bell #losangeles #poetry (at Alivio Open Mic) https://www.instagram.com/p/B21_yr8ANpC/?igshid=ruj6dfqbb1h1

#Repost from @thevenisiaagency (me)⠀ ⠀ In honor of National Poetry Day, let us recognize the Nobel Prize winning Chilean poet, Pablo Neruda (1904-1973). I remember the first time I was introduced to his poetry in high school and my world changed. Neruda not only was an influential poet but a political figure as well. ⠀ ⠀ The Poetry Foundation (@poetryfoundation) has a wonderful write up on Neruda here: https://buff.ly/2nTgsIz⠀ ⠀ #nationalpoetryday #pabloneruda #latinxpoets #thevenisiaagency #venisiagonzalez #poetry #latinpoets #hispanicpoets #poet #poetryfoundation #writingcommunity #writing #writinginspiration #famouspoets https://www.instagram.com/p/B3KQkwGghJ0/?igshid=1m0honugiy7w7

I will teach my son⁣

to never drown⁣

the rose pedals⁣

inside of his mouth,⁣

the gifts for the next generation,⁣

blooming.⁣

⁣

#babyboy #fatherson #dadlife #mihijo #mybabyboy #latinopoet #latinxpoet #latinodad #sonpoetry #masculinity #fatherhood #fathersofinstagram #healthylifestyle #healthymasculinity #positivemasculinity #manhood

It's #GuideFriday and on this week's edition I bring to you Puerto Rican poetry recommendations. QOTD: What is your favorite poetry collection? In the spirit of celebrating Women's History Month, I've compiled a list of favorite female and non-binary Puerto Rican titles. Poetry hasn't always been a choice I made when it comes to reading but last year it became a saving grace. Reading poetry has shown me the beauty of tapping into your innermost emotions. After reading different poetry collections this past year, it has also become a preferred way of social resistance and led me back to writing again. Poetry has also inspired me to pick up more books in verse and other mixed formats. I'm really excited that one of my favorites @elisabetvelasquezpoetry has her first novel in verse "When We Make It" coming out in September. If you're looking for more great poetry recs, please check out Pedro @prettymuchbooks. I've gotten many great recs from his page. #GuideFriday #Bookrecs #bookish #books #bookdragon #ReadPuertoRican #ownvoices #ReadLatinx #poetry #Latinx #booksinverse #bookstagram #LatinxBookstagram #reading #Latinxpoets #PuertoRicanlit #bookguide #poetrycollections #PuertoRicanwriters #PRpoets #bookworm #poetsofIG #libros #bibliophile #bookworm #read #diversereading #ILoveBooks #decolonizeyourfeed #diversespines #dignidadliteraria (at Bushwick) https://www.instagram.com/p/CMDYbdEAEKb/?igshid=11zyplhixk6ib

IN THE END… She must have felt like a ghost Trying to break her Voice Across the void. Her pains so intense It demolishes chances Of being heard fully. Made to feel lonely, She ripped apart her soul Trying to get these thoughts From going out of control. Taking a path most would not dare travel She came through the fields of despair. Coming from afar to find her heart, Figuring herself of all her past wasn't fair. She's a rare breed, she knows of not defeat Only of love and peace. In the end She will blossom A queen Never to be defeated again. JGHP (Mis pinches letras) #poem #poetry #queen #women #love #intheend #latinxpoetry #latinxpoets (at Televisa Guadalajara) https://www.instagram.com/p/Cn4YJ4Kuvnf/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

Last Saturday at the #wordfestival where I got to meet Chingona Fire🔥 Las hermosas, talentosas, e increíbles mujeres de un corazón hermoso y sencillo: Yesika Salgado y Angela Aguirre. ¡Más mujeres como ustedes en el mundo porfavor! #chingonafire #Latinxpoets #inspiringwomen (at Pacoima City Hall)

This Thursday it's going down @penamerica join Elizabeth Acevedo, Malka Older and Nicole Dennis-Benn for cocktails! Tickets available via eventbrite #latinxpoets #latinolit #latinxcreate #latinxinpub #latinxinpublishing (at Brooklyn, New York)

Prologue to Womanhood | Rebecca Rivera

Maybe I will always

1. fluctuate between confidence and self-consciousness. 

2. be bored of anything as soon as I deem it ordinary. 

3. be running out of time. 

4. hate a poem 10 minutes after I write it. 

5. want to live in my head more often than not. 

6. wonder whose heart aches like mine and want to hold their hand. 

7. not give a shit what anyone thinks. 

8. give a shit what everyone thinks. 

9. be fighting to write Latinos into existence. 

10. be fueled by the undying need to see myself reflected everywhere. 

11. cry myself into a new life. 

12. be an anxious kid at heart. 

some selfies from the first ever FEMSlam in Cambridge, MA this past weekend. Our team Femmeyc made it to finals!